What is MICS?
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) is an international household survey programme developed by UNICEF in the 1990s. Since then, close to 330 surveys have been implemented in over 115 countries. The sixth round of MICS has about 70 surveys, making it the largest round and includes a range of low, middle and high-income countries and many which are in post-emergency periods.
What information is collected in MICS?
MICS is designed to collect statistically sound, internationally comparable estimates of about 130 indicators to assess the situation of children, women and men in the areas of health, education, and child protection. MICS is a rich source of data on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), collecting about 33 SDG indicators. Data can be disaggregated for young people age 15-24 and by gender.
MHH Data in MICS
Menstrual health & hygiene (MHH) is a complementary questionnaire topic for the seventh round of MICS (MICS7). The MHH module in MICS7 includes the following areas: materials, facilities, knowledge, discomfort/disorders, and MHH impacts. These topics cover women and adolescent girls age 15-49 who have menstruated in the last 12 months. The module is placed in the Base Questionnaire for Women age 15-49.
The module consists of 6 questions:
During your last menstrual period, did you have trouble participating in the following activities due to your period. (Work, education and training, social activities outside school or work)
During your last menstrual period, did you worry that someone would see you while you were changing menstrual materials at home?
During your last menstrual period, did you have enough menstrual materials to change them as often as you wanted to throughout your menstrual period?
During your last menstrual period, were you able to reduce your menstruation-related pain when you needed to?
If you were to have a concern about your menstrual period, would you feel comfortable seeking help from a health care provider such as a school nurse, community health worker, or doctor?
Before you had your first menstrual period, did you know about menstruation?